Minnesota defeats Iowa 72-67 in Big Ten clash

In a closely contested game, Minnesota narrowly defeated Iowa 72-67, led by Dawson Garcia's 20 points and Femi Odukale's 18 points. Minnesota maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half, but Iowa rallied late with a 13-3 run, cutting the deficit to just three points. Payton Sandfort was a standout for Iowa, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but the team faced its third consecutive loss. This victory is particularly significant for Minnesota, which had recently ended a four-game losing streak and is now looking to build momentum ahead of their next match against No. 15 Oregon. The Golden Gophers improved to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten, while Iowa fell to 12-7 and 3-5 in conference play. The matchup marked the first meeting of the season between the two teams in Big Ten play.